profitless, and by means of which the twins were transferred from thecomfortable middle distance they had previously occupied to theimmediate foreground of duty. The lens might slip, but while it wasin place she saw as clearly as another woman.

'Will you?' repeated Mistress Mary, wondering at her silence.

Mrs. Grubb gave one last glance at the still reproach of Lisa's face,and one more at the twins, who seemed to loom more formidably eachtime she regarded them; then drawing a deep breath she said, 'Yes, Iwill; I WILL, no matter what happens; but it isn't enough to give up,and you needn't suppose I think it is.' And taking a passive twin byeither hand, she passed out of the door into the crowdedthoroughfare, and disappeared in the narrow streets that led to EdenPlace.